Land-Use/Cover Changes in the Kewer Gadhera Sub-Watershed, Central Himalaya - Impact of Global Changes on Mountains: Responses and Adaptation - page 304

Table 12.2. Tree Species and Trend in Changes over 40 Years in the Kewer Gadhera Sub-
Watershed.

English Name Local Name Scientifi c Name Changes Area under tree

species (%)

Preferred in construction
Deodar*

Cedrus deodara

Deyar/Kaol Increase 10

Pinus wallencia

Pine*** Chid Large increase 40

Picea Smithiona

Spruce* Rai Increase 05

Silver fi r* Tos Abies pirdrow Increase 05

Preferred for winter fodder
Oak**

Banj Quercus himalayana Decrease 20

Black Mulberry** Tilonj Morus spp . Decrease 10

Preferred fuel
Oak** Banj Quercus himalayana Decrease
Pine*** Chid Pinus wallencia Large increase
Shrubs*** Kathi Indigofers spp . Constant 10
* High altitude trees grown over 2600 m, ** between 1800 to 2600 m, *** between 1100 to 1800 m.

forest area is large-scale afforestation by the forest department. Oak is an
important species largely used for fuel and fodder. Every year, large-scale
oak forests are cut by the local people for meeting fuel and fodder needs
and as a result of this, its area is decreasing. Black mulberry a similar species
of oak is also used widely. Deodar, Spruce, and Silver Fir are grown in the
high altitudes and are very inaccessible. Thus, their use is almost negligible.

Agricultural land

Agriculture (41.10% of the geographical area) is rain-fed (99.72%)
characterized by the cultivation of subsistence cereal crops (41.10%). The
crops are nomenclature ' Barahnaja ' (twelve seeds), which include millets,
pulses and oilseeds (Sati 2009). Farming is mostly practiced on the narrow
patches of terraced fi elds in the middle and upper reaches of the watershed.
Few patches in the valley regions are cultivable. The considerable loss of
soil, due to large-scale erosion, has resulted in low fertility consequently
low production and per ha yields (approx. 5 quintal/ha) of crops. Further,
the mode of cultivation is traditional. Crops are grown in two different
seasons. The fi rst season is rabi , which starts from October-November and
lasts upto April-May. In this season, wheat is the main crop followed by
barley and mustard. Until the 1970's, barley was the main crop. The second
season is kharif . Rice, millets, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are grown in this
season. It begins from May and lasts till September. Land is kept fallow for